Long Beach Zoning Guide: CNA Neighborhood Commercial Automobile-Oriented District
In the City of Long Beach, the CNA (Neighborhood Commercial Automobile-Oriented) district is designed to accommodate neighborhood-serving businesses that prioritize vehicular access, typically featuring buildings set back from the street with parking located in front [Section 21.32.020]. This district allows a variety of retail, professional, and service uses by right, but strictly prohibits heavy industrial activities, general auto repair, and specific predatory financial services like check cashing or payday loans [Table 32-1]. Development in the CNA: Neighborhood Commercial Automobile-Oriented District is generally limited to a maximum height of 28 feet and two stories to maintain compatibility with surrounding residential areas [Table 32-2].
Permitted and Prohibited Uses in the CNA District
The following sections detail the use regulations for the CNA: Neighborhood Commercial Automobile-Oriented District as established by the Long Beach Municipal Code [Table 32-1].
Uses Permitted by Right (Y)
These uses are allowed in the Long Beach CNA district without requiring a conditional or administrative permit, provided they meet standard development criteria:
- Retail: Basic retail sales (clothing, books, antiques, etc.), adult-use cannabis dispensaries, and flower/news carts.
- Food and Beverage: Restaurants without drive-through facilities and restaurants with entertainment.
- Professional Services: Offices for accounting, law, medicine (medical offices/urgent care), architecture, and real estate.
- Education and Institutional: Public libraries, publicly run post-secondary schools, and daycare/pre-schools.
- Personal Services: Barber/beauty shops, dry cleaners, locksmiths, and shoe repair.
- Recreation: Passive parks and urban agriculture.
Uses Permitted with Administrative Use Permit (AP)
The following uses require a higher level of review by the Long Beach Zoning Administrator:
- Services: Auto detailing (with hand-held machines only), offset printing, and gun repair shops.
- Entertainment: Live or movie theaters with more than 100 fixed seats, and indoor amusement facilities (up to 6,000 sq. ft.).
- Lodging: Bed and breakfast inns.
- Institutional: Social service offices of nonprofit organizations (without food distribution).
Uses Permitted with Conditional Use Permit (C)
These uses are subject to discretionary review by the Long Beach Planning Commission or City Council due to their potential impact on the neighborhood:
- Automotive/Auto-Oriented: Gasoline sales, drive-through facilities for restaurants or banks, and principal-use parking services.
- Alcohol: On-premises and off-premises alcohol sales (subject to the 500-ft residential buffer rule) [Section 21.52.201].
- Entertainment: Indoor amusement or entertainment facilities exceeding 6,000 sq. ft.
- Institutional: Hospitals and convalescent homes.
- Communication: Freestanding or monopole cellular communication towers [Section 21.52.210].
Accessory (A) and Temporary (T) Uses
- Accessory: Outdoor dining, ATM machines (interior/walk-up), parsonages, and manufacturing of products sold on-site [Section 21.51.240].
- Temporary: Carnivals, fiestas, outdoor exhibitions (up to 10 days), and mobile food trucks at construction sites [Section 21.53.106].
Prohibited Uses (N)
The City of Long Beach expressly prohibits the following within the CNA district:
- predatory Financial Services: Car title loans, check cashing, payday loans, and signature loans [Section 21.52.212].
- Industrial: All heavy manufacturing, waste transfer, and industrial laundry services.
- Automotive: General auto repair (bodywork, painting), car washes, diesel fuel sales, and towing services.
- Recreation: Drive-in theaters, mock boxing/wrestling, and outdoor amusement facilities.
- Other: Pawnshops and thrift stores.
Development Standards for the CNA District
All structures within the Long Beach CNA district must adhere to the following technical dimensions to ensure neighborhood compatibility:
| Development Standard | CNA District Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Size | 5,000 square feet |
| Maximum Building Height | 28 feet / 2 Stories |
| Front Street Setback | 10 feet |
| Side Street Setback | 5 feet |
| Setback Adjacent to Residential (Side) | 10 feet |
| Setback Adjacent to Residential (Rear) | 20 feet |
| Parking Setback (Front Street) | 10 feet |
| Maximum Flagpole Height | 25 feet |
Note: In all cases, a minimum setback of 10 feet is required from the curb face [Table 32-2].
Special Use Restrictions
- Drive-Through Facilities: Must undergo a site plan review and meet specific queuing and circulation standards to prevent traffic hazards [Section 21.45.130].
- Alcohol Sales: Establishments within 500 feet of a residential district must obtain a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) [Section 21.52.201].
- Cannabis: Delivery-only dispensaries are permitted by right if they are under 750 sq. ft. and located on the second floor or above [Table 32-1].
- Tattoo Parlors: Allowed by right in the CNA district, provided they are not located within 1,000 feet of another tattoo parlor or a school [Section 21.45.166].
Sections Cited
- 21.32.020 (Commercial Districts Established)
- 21.32.110 (Permitted Uses)
- 21.32.205 (Lot Size)
- 21.32.210 (Building Height)
- 21.32.220 (Yards)
- 21.45.130 (Drive-through facilities)
- 21.45.166 (Tattoo parlors)
- 21.45.700 (Adult-use cannabis dispensaries)
- 21.51.240 (Manufacture of products sold on-site)
- 21.52.201 (Alcoholic beverage sales uses)
- 21.52.212 (Check cashing and other financial services)
- 21.53.106 (Mobile food truck)